Adolescent thoracic scoliosis due to giant ganglioneuroma: a two-case report and literature review.

Ganglioneuromas are rare benign tumors that arise from the sympathetic nervous system. The presentation of tumors is variable and associated with adolescent thoracic scoliosis. Herein, we present two case reports and a review of literature.

Male patients with adult spinal deformity: sex differences in demographics, radiography, and complications.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate sex-related differences in demographics, radiography, and perioperative complications in adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgeries.

Methods: This retrospective cohort, single-center study enrolled patients who underwent long-instrumented fusion from the thoracic spine to the ilium for ASD, with a minimum follow-up of 2 years. The incidence of preoperative comorbidities, perioperative complications, and postoperative mechanical complications was analyzed.

Residual T1 tilt could lead to poor self-image for patients with Lenke type 1 adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Purpose: We aimed to investigate the clinical impact and risk factors for residual T1 tilt in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed data of patients with AIS and Lenke type 1 curves who underwent posterior fusion.

Efficacy of Chemonucleolysis with Condoliase in Patients Aged under 20 Years.

Introduction: Chemonucleolysis with condoliase is a minimally invasive treatment option for lumbar disk herniation (LDH). However, studies reporting the efficacy of condoliase in patients aged <20 years are scarce. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of condoliase therapy for LDH in the aforementioned population.

Adjacent segment degeneration at a minimum 2-year follow-up after posterior lumbar interbody fusion: the impact of sagittal spinal proportion: a retrospective case series.

Study Design: A retrospective cohort study.

Purpose: To investigate the sagittal plane configuration of the entire spine and its association with the risk of adjacent segment degeneration (ASD) after posterior lumbar interbody fusion (PLIF).

Overview Of Literature: Although PLIF has demonstrated satisfactory clinical outcomes, it is associated with ASD.

Implications of the diagnosis of locomotive syndrome stage 3 for long-term care.

Objectives: Locomotive syndrome stage 3 (LS3), which has been established recently, may imply a greater need for care than LS stage 0 (LS0), LS stage 1 (LS1), and LS stage 2 (LS2). The relationship between LS3 and long-term care in Japan is unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to examine this relationship.

Psychological Factors Can Affect the Clinical Outcome of Chemonucleolysis with Condoliase in Patients with Lumbar Disk Herniation.

Introduction: Condoliase-based chemonucleolysis is a minimally invasive intermediate treatment option between conservative approaches and surgical interventions for lumbar disk herniation (LDH). In this study, the effects of psychological factors on the clinical outcomes of condoliase therapy for LDH were assessed.

Methods: This study involved patients with LDH who received condoliase injections over a 1-year follow-up period.

Evaluation of the changes in waistline asymmetry using digital photography in adolescents with idiopathic thoracolumbar/lumbar scoliosis after corrective surgery.

Purpose: Waist line asymmetry is a major cosmetic concern in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). The primary surgical goal in patients with AIS is to correct spinal deformities and prevent further progression while maintaining global alignment. Additionally, an important objective of surgical treatment is to address physical appearance by reducing asymmetry.

5-year outcomes of surgical intervention in patients with adult spine deformity according to preoperative 5-item modified frailty index scores.

Purpose: Frailty increases vulnerability to dependency and/or death, and is important in predicting the risk for adverse effects following adult spinal deformity (ASD) surgery. For easy determination of frailty, the 5-item modified frailty index (mFI-5) was established. However, there are few reports that show the relationship between frailty and mid-term operative outcomes after ASD surgery.

Impact of multi-rod reinforcement on rod fractures in adult spinal deformity: A retrospective case series with a minimum follow up of 5 years.

Background: This study aimed to determine the impact of the multi-rod construct on rod fractures over a minimum follow-up period of five years in comparison to that with the conventional two-rod construct using the same technique, rod composition, and rod reinforcement method.

Methods: Data were retrospectively retrieved from a prospectively collected, single-center database. Consecutive patients >50 years of age who underwent thoracopelvic corrective fusion with planned two-stage anterior-posterior surgery and were followed up for at least five years were included in this study.

Development of a non-destructive depth-selective quantification method for sub-percent carbon contents in steel using negative muon lifetime analysis.

The amount of C in steel, which is critical in determining its properties, is strongly influenced by steel production technology. We propose a novel method of quantifying the bulk C content in steel non-destructively using muons. This revolutionary method may be used not only in the quality control of steel in production, but also in analyzing precious steel archaeological artifacts.

Symptoms of sacral fractures after posterior spinal instrumented fusion: A case series.

Background: Improvements in spinal fusion devices and techniques have enabled stronger spinal fusion, resulting in excellent clinical outcomes. Nevertheless, complications associated with implants, such as screw misalignment, screw lubrication, cage dislocation, and skin issues, might occur. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics and symptoms of sacral fractures after spinal instrumented fusion.

Impact of Preoperative Motor Status for the Positive Predictive Value of Transcranial Motor-Evoked Potentials Alerts in Thoracic Spine Surgery: A Prospective Multicenter Study by the Monitoring Committee of the Japanese Society for Spine Surgery and Related Research.

Study Design: Prospective multicenter study.

Objective: To investigate the validity of transcranial motor-evoked potentials (Tc-MEP) in thoracic spine surgery and evaluate the impact of specific factors associated with positive predictive value (PPV).

Methods: One thousand hundred and fifty-six cases of thoracic spine surgeries were examined by comparing patient backgrounds, disease type, preoperative motor status, and Tc-MEP alert timing.

Postoperative neurological complications in intradural extramedullary tumors: A 10-year experience of a single center.

Background: Intradural extramedullary spinal cord tumors (IDEMs) cause neurological symptoms due to compression of the spinal cord and caudal nerves. The purpose of this study was to investigate the incidence of postoperative neurological complications after surgical resection of IDEM and to identify factors associated with such postoperative neurological complications.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed 85 patients who underwent tumor resection for IDEM between 2010 and 2020.

Potential sex differences in activation of pain-related brain regions in nonhuman primates with a unilateral spinal nerve ligation.

The lack of truly robust analgesics for chronic pain is owed, in part, to the lack of an animal model that reflects the clinical pain state and of a mechanism-based, objective neurological indicator of pain. The present study examined stimulus-evoked brain activation with functional magnetic resonance imaging in male and female cynomolgus macaques following unilateral L7 spinal nerve ligation and the effects of clinical analgesics pregabalin, duloxetine, and morphine on brain activation in these macaques. A modified straight leg raise test was used to assess pain severity in awake animals and to evoke regional brain activation in anesthetized animals.

Clinical differences in preoperative symptoms and surgical outcomes between early and late-teen patients with Lenke type 5C adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Purpose: This study aimed to compare the clinical features and postoperative outcomes in patients with Lenke type 5C AIS in the early and late teens.

Methods: The study included eligible patients with AIS aged < 20 years with Lenke type 5C curves who underwent selective thoracolumbar/lumbar (TL/L) fusion. The patients were divided into two groups according to the age: younger (11-15 years) and older (16-19 years).

The relationship between frailty and spinal alignment in the elderly general population: a two-year longitudinal study.

Purpose: Frailty is caused by age-related decline in physical function, which may contribute to worsening spinal alignment. Cardiovascular Health Study (CHS)-criteria for assessing physical function seem more appropriate than frailty index which evaluate comorbiduty. However, there have been no reports investigating the relationship between frailty and spinal alignment using the CHS criteria.

Optimal lowest instrumented vertebra selection with consideration of coronal and sagittal planes to prevent distal junctional complications in patients with Lenke type 1A and 2A adolescent idiopathic scoliosis.

Purpose: Postoperative distal adding-on and distal junctional kyphosis are major distal junctional complications after selective thoracic fusion in patients with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS). This study aimed to investigate the incidence of distal adding-on and distal junctional kyphosis and evaluate the validity of our selection criteria for the lowest instrumented vertebra (LIV) in patients with Lenke type 1A and 2A AIS.

Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the data of patients with Lenke type 1A and 2A AIS, who underwent posterior fusion surgery.

Why does knee flexion in the standing position occur? Spinal deformity or knee osteoarthritis.

The interaction between knee osteoarthritis and spinal deformity and knee flexion (KF) remains unclear. We aimed to clarify the relationship between KF in the standing position and the severity of spinal deformity and knee osteoarthritis. We analyzed older volunteers aged over years who participated in the musculoskeletal screening program.

Effect of Unintended Tissue Injury on the Development of Thigh Symptoms After Lateral Lumbar Interbody Fusion in Patients With Adult Spinal Deformity: A Retrospective Case Series.

Study Design: A retrospective case series.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the effects of lateral lumbar interbody fusion (LLIF)-induced unintended tissue damage, including cage subsidence, cage malposition, and hematoma in the psoas major muscle, on the development of thigh symptoms.

Summary Of Background Data: Thigh symptoms are the most frequent complications after LLIF and are assumed to be caused by lumbar plexus compression and/or direct injury to the psoas major muscle.